Bees need our help - Urgent Petition!

 

EU-Minister beraten Verbot von Neonikotinoiden
Was tun gegen das große Bienensterben?

Schon seit langem beklagen Imker ein Bienensterben. Unter Verdacht sind bestimmte Pestizide, die den Tieren laut einer Studie die Orientierung nehmen. Nun befassen sich die EU-Agrarminister mit diesen Neonikotinoiden. In diesem Zusammenhang erhielt ich heute eine Aufforderung zu deiner dringenden Petition, die ich hiermit weitergebe.

 

Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But in 48 hours the European Union could move to ban the most poisonous pesticides, and pave the way to a global ban that would save bees from extinction.

Four EU countries have begun banning these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. Days ago the official European food safety watchdog stated for the first time that certain pesticides are fatally harming bees. Now legal experts and European politicians are calling for an immediate ban. But Bayer and other giant pesticide producers are lobbying hard to keep them on the market.

We know our voices count! Last year, our 1.2 million strong petition forced US authorities to open a formal consultation on pesticides -- now if we reach 2 million, we can persuade the EU to get rid of these crazy poisons and pave the way for a ban worldwide. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone - the message will be delivered ahead of this week's key meeting in Brussels:

Bees don't just make honey, they are vital to life on earth, every year pollinating 90% of plants and crops -- with an estimated $40bn value and over one-third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are already extinct and some US species are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers and now the European Food Safety Authority is saying that toxic chemicals called neonicotinoid pesticides could be responsible for the bee deaths. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee-killing pesticides. But Bayer continues to export its poison across the world.

Now the issue is coming to a boil. EU parliamentarians are stepping up their pressure on the European Commission and key governments to push new legislation to ban the deadly pesticides, and we can offer them the public support they need to counter the powerful pesticide lobby. Sign the urgent petition to Europe’s leaders and spread the word.

Our world is beset with threats to what makes it habitable, and to what fills it with wonder, bees belong to that wonder.

Please sign the petition - now. 

Sources:
- Pesticides pose danger to bees/ European Voice
- Crop pesticides are 'killing our bees' - says MEP/ Public Service Europe
- Death knell for nerve agent pesticides in move to save bees/The Independent
- Give Bees a Chance!/The Greens European Free Alliance
- Studies fault Bayer in bee die-off / Christian Science Monitor

Related:

- Was tun gegen das große Bienensterben?/Tagesschau 28.01.2013

- Bienendokumentation "More Than Honey"/ Spiegel Online Oktober 2012